Chili Peppers Join Suspect List in Salmonella Investigation

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 9 -- The FDA and CDC have expanded their Salmonella saintpaul investigation to include jalapeno and serrano peppers, while still keeping tomatoes at the top of their list of suspects.

At a press briefing today, Robert Tauxe, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director of the CDC's Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases, said the toll of confirmed cases has risen to 1,017 and 203 of those were hospitalized for illness. The most recent reported case was June 26.

Trace-backs of recent clusters put the CDC and FDA on the path of chili peppers, and the CDC has also decided to issue a new health advisory warning to at-risk people -- elderly, infants, and those who are immunocompromised -- to avoid eating raw jalapeno and serrano peppers.

Dr. Tauxe said, however, that the warning about consuming red plum, red roma, and red round tomatoes still stands.